News

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The Ministry of Transport and Aviation has disclosed plans to distribute 50 school buses it recently acquired ahead of resumption of schooling for the 2019/2020 academic year.

Schools are expected to reopen on 16 September, according to a statement from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

Officials said on Thursday that every district will have been handed their share of the buses by September 13.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

Parliament on Thursday 29 August approved veteran journalist and media practitioner, Joshua Nicol and nine other presidential appointees to different government agencies.

The approval was the first order of business on Thursday by the house, following the end of its recess.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has launched a new National Population Policy which aims at controlling the fertility of women, as one of many strategies to deal with the country’s rapid population growth.

According to the latest (2015) national census, Sierra Leone’s population is around 7.3 million. Some 52% of this are women. This new population Policy targets women’s fertility as a key strategy in population growth management in line with the country’s economic growth.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The House of Parliament has approved a bill to replace the 2017 Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Act. The bill which was passed on Thursday is expected to increase security and assure safety at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi in line with international standards.

The bill is one of the many criteria Sierra Leone is looking to satisfy inline with the Universal Security Audit Program (USAP) that is being carried out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Community Radio Station managers and media rights campaigners have condemned a move by the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) to review the status of community radios operating in cities.

NATCOM intends to convert all community radio stations operating in cities to commercial radio stations. This means that they will have to pay more than they currently pay to the regulator.

NATCOM said the move was necessary given changes in demographics in cities over the years.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The House of Parliament is set to resume sittings today following the end of its annual recess.

The recess allowed the Members of Parliament (MP) to visit their constituencies and engage their constituents. All 132 MPs are expected to be in Parliament on Thursday morning.

By Kemo Cham

Twenty-three supporters of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) are expected to appear in court on Friday, 30 August.

The accused face 22 counts charges, including malicious damage, riotous conduct, disorderly behavior and throwing missiles.